With three weeks past since Baltic High School’s newest addition, the fitness center, has been in use, students and faculty alike are embracing the new facility, according to district superintendent Bob Sittig.

“Students and staff are very excited about the new fitness equipment and the opportunity to work out,” he said. “While the fitness center will be a great place for our athletes to get stronger and faster, our goal was for the fitness center to be much more than a place for athletes.”

The administrator updated the Baltic School Board at its latest meeting, Nov. 12, on the finishing touches to the space, what Sittig considered a very minor final detail of putting trim on one of the heaters.

But the addition has received heavy use, something that the superintendent hopes will continue throughout the year and into the coming ones.

“We wanted a facility for all of our students and staff to use in hopes of making lifestyle changes that lead to good health,” Sittig said. “Thus far, usage indicates that goal is being achieved.

“The true test, however, will be the usage a few months from now when the novelty has worn off.”

In addition to updating board members on the final touches to the fitness center, a report was given on the old elementary gym, where the scoreboard was no longer working properly. Due to its age, parts to repair the existing scoreboard were no longer available for purchase.

Maintenance director Randy Meyer purchased and installed a new scoreboard to ready for the upcoming basketball season.

Other Board Discussion**High school principal Jim Aisenbrey presented survey results to board members at the November meeting. He said that the poll, which had to do with the school’s new block scheduling, had generally supportive results from the student body.

“Students (…) believe that the block schedule will continue to improve as both they and the teachers become more accustomed to it,” he said.

He added that tweaks had been made, including incorporation of digital planners and a “homework messenger system,” to ease the transition.

“I think that the teachers will continue to grow with their lesson plans, and we will continue to see improvements throughout the year.”

**A new attendance policy received its first and second reading at the most recent board meeting, accommodating the change to block scheduling.

Superintendent Sittig said that since block makes for one class period to approximately equate two classes from the previous system, students should only be able to miss half as many periods to still receive credit.

The group will have a third and final reading at the December meeting, and the policy change would be adopted for the second semester in January.